APR News Reports

3:06 pm

Wed May 12, 2004

Snack Food Wars

Tuscaloosa, AL – Vending machines at public school campuses are being targeted for their unhealthy snacks. The issue is gaining ground across the nation. Alabama Public Radio's Butler Cain recently spoke with Regan Jones, a registered dietician and a spokesperson for the Southeast Dairy Association. She says school systems are required to provide healthy meals, but she says they aren't setting a proper example when it comes to snack time.

OUTRO: Regan Jones is a registered dietician and a spokesperson for the Southeast Dairy Association. She spoke with Butler Cain about efforts to improve snack choices in public schools. Representatives of the soda and snack food industries are involved in the debate, as well. They generally oppose school system intervention, saying the responsibility for promoting healthy eating habits should lie with parents and students.